Mellem filantropi og forretning. Sparekassebevægelsen i forandring 1881-1920

Resumé

De mange nyoprettede sparekasser i Danmark i anden halvdel af 1800-tallet oplevede væsentlige forandringer mellem 1881 og 1920. Den første sparekasselov i 1881 medførte statslig kontrol, og der blev bragt orden i vedtægter, regnskaber og revision. I samme periode opstod der konkurrence fra bankerne, hvilket lagde et markant pres på sparekasserne.

I disse forandringer opstod der interne brydninger i sparekassebevægelsen. Resultatet blev, at det socialfilantropiske arbejde, som dannede grundlaget for hele bevægelsens opståen, blev skubbet i baggrunden. Til gengæld øgedes opmærksomheden mod mere forretningsmæssige perspektiver i sparekassernes virke.

Ydelser til velgørende formål var dog i hele perioden en fast aktivitet for alle sparekasser, og det fik offentlige institutioner og private borgere med særlige behov glæde af. Men det var andre aktører end de enkelte sparekasser, der løftede nye sparefremmende aktiviteter før og efter århundredeskiftet: Øresparekasser for de allermindst bemidlede borgere var et tidligt initiativ, og skolesparekasser og et sparemærkesystem for børn opnåede stor udbredelse langt op i 1900-tallet. Hertil kom tyendespareforeninger og opsparingsordninger for unge.

I en turbulent tid før og efter århundredeskiftet levede en del af den oprindelige sparekasseidé således videre i regi af andre aktører, dog i et tæt praktisk samarbejde med de enkelte sparekasser.

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Between philanthropy and business. The savings bank movement in change 1881-1920

The many newly established savings banks in Denmark in the second half of the 19th century experienced significant changes between 1881 and 1920. The first Savings Bank Act in 1881 brought state control, and order was brought to statutes, accounts and auditing. During the same period, competition from banks emerged, which put significant pressure on savings banks.

These changes caused internal rifts in the savings bank movement. As a result, the social philanthropic work that formed the basis of the entire movement was pushed into the background. On the other hand, more attention was paid to the more commercial perspectives of the savings banks' activities.

However, charitable donations were a regular activity for all savings banks throughout the period, benefiting public institutions and private citizens. But it was actors other than the individual savings banks that promoted new savings activities before and after the turn of the century: Penny savings banks for the poorest citizens were an early initiative, and school savings banks and a savings stamp system for children became widespread well into the 1900s. In addition, there were savings associations and savings schemes for young people.

In a turbulent time before and after the turn of the century, part of the original savings bank idea lived on under the auspices of other actors, but in close practical cooperation with the individual savings banks.